Thanks to P-O-P-I-S-D-E-A-D, we can finally bring you, our viewers, a year’s end list of the best (by opinion) in music. What you are about to read is a list of the 50 best albums of 2011. It’s a mix of the best indie, “mindie” and mainstream collections of work put out by today’s brightest artists, artistes, musicians, entertainers, Pop acts, entertainers, etc… So join us and hit the jump for what we think is an unbiased list of 2011′s best.

50. Mac Miller – Blue Slide Park

Notes: One of the most impressive, consistent Hip-Hop debuts of 2011.

iPod food: “One Last Thing”

49. The Black Keys – El Camino

Notes: A wild, fun and ballsy follow up record from the indie heroes.

iPod food: “Gold On The Ceiling”

48. Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam

Notes: An introspective alternative hip hop debut from the promising Brit.

iPod food: “Us Against Whatever Ever”

47. Britney Spears – Femme Fatale

Notes: Ms. Spears best release since ‘Blackout’. An outstanding, experimental, forward-thinking pop record.

iPod food: “How I Roll”

46. Radiohead – King of Limbs

Notes: As expected, Radiohead delivers another exquisite album to rest alongside their acclaimed discography.

iPod food: “Lotus Flower”

45. Lights – Siberia

Notes: A surprisingly beautiful, electro-pop sophomore album from the Canadian singer. Might be the year’s most improved artist.

iPod food: “Siberia”

44. The Roots – Undun

Notes: Have The Roots ever made an album that wasn’t worthy of mention on a year-end list?

iPod food: “Make My”

43. Toro Y Moi – Underneath The Pine

Notes: Chillwave artist makes an amazing record to get blazed dance to.

iPod food: “New Beat”

42. Curren$y – Weekend at Burnie’s

Notes: On this release, tapped as a mixtape and an album, Curren$y matures and delivers his best release to date.

iPod food: “#jetsgo”

41. Washed Out – Within and Without

Notes: One of the year’s best electronic debuts.

iPod food: “Amor Fati”

40. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

Notes: I never really ‘got’ St. Vincent’s music…before this album.

iPod food: “Cruel”

39. The Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee: Part Two

Notes: The Hip Hop veterans, 30 odd years in the game, make their best album in ages. One of the most underrated hip hop albums of the year.

iPod food: “Too Many Rappers” feat. Nas

38. Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi

Notes: A moody, haunting, Mercury-Prize-nominated debut by the English chanteuse.

iPod food: “No More Words”

37. Feist – Metals

Notes: A gorgeously sung, heartbreaking album heavy on ballads detailing lost love, grief and sadness.

iPod food: “Caught a Long Wind”

36. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80

Notes: Lamar lives up to the hype and proves he is a force to be reckoned with on this impressive Hip-Hop debut.

iPod food: “Tammy’s Song (Her Evils)”

35. Tyler, The Creator – Goblin

Notes: The arguable new king of shock-rap returns with an album so misogynist, so obscene, so violent, so weird, so revolting, so controversial, so uncomfortably revealing…you can’t help but wonder if the joke is really on us. A fascinating self-examination on record.

iPod food: “Nightmare”

34. Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra

Notes: The eldest of the OFWGKTA-clan releases a mixtape that showcases his phenomenal talent for singing and songwriting. Might have one of the most anticipated records to come out next year.

iPod food: “Novacane”

33. Björk – Biophilia
Notes: Biophilia is the ambitious, multi-media brain child of everyone’s favourite Icelander. It may also be Bjork’s most ambitious musical offering yet. Using a plethora of custom-made instruments (including one that makes harmonies out of the Earth’s gravitational pull), Bjork is one of the few artists that would know how to use them to create these otherworldly tracks.

iPod food: “Mutual Core”

32. A$AP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP

Notes: By far, the most spectacular, promising Hip-Hop mixtape of 2011 courtesy of the young Harlem native. I cannot wait to hear what else A$AP Rocky has in store for us in the new year!

iPod food: “Bass”

31. Cut Copy – Zonoscope

Notes: Another solid, colourful album from the Aussie electropop-masters. Would we expect anything less?

iPod food: “Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution”

30. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient

Notes: One of the most critically acclaimed rock albums of 2011, and deservedly so. Similar to last year’s “The Suburbs” by The Arcade Fire.

iPod food: “Come to the City”

29. TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light

Notes: Another impressive album by the Indie gods. This one is a little more experimental than their earlier releases and it pays off!

iPod food: “New Cannonball Blues”

28. Zomby – Dedication

Notes: One of the most critically acclaimed artists of the post-dubstep movement makes a haunting, schizophrenic, minimal masterpiece on this largely instrumental album.

iPod food: “Mozaik”

27. Kasabian – Velociraptor!

Notes: Another stellar collection by the beloved rock act.

iPod food: “Neon Noon”

26. Saigon – The Greatest Story Never Told

Notes: Saigon finally released his forever-and-a-day delayed debut album and it may have the title of most critically acclaimed hip hop album of 2011. This is as close to ‘real’ hip hop as you’ll hear in the mainstream.

iPod food: “Come On Baby” feat. Jay-Z

25. Yuck – Yuck

Notes: Another critically acclaimed rock debut released this year, and deservedly so. Yuck transports me back to the 90s, they have a style that is somewhere between Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. They also get the award for best band name.

iPod food: “Stutter”

24. Rustie – Glass Swords

Notes: A mesmerizing electronic debut this was. From beginning to end it is a sonic onslaught that never ceases to bring a smile to your face and a desire to dance. After releasing a few EPs, it was nice to finally have a full length by this promising artist.

iPod food: “Ultra Thizz”

23. Cults – Cults

Notes: I remember first listening to the entirety of this album riding the metro and being blown away by their 60s-nostalgic vibe. I personally think this was one of the strongest debuts in any genre this year.

iPod food: “You Know What I Mean”

22. SBTRKT – SBTRKT

Notes: The mystery of the man behind SBTRKT is appealing, though not nearly as intriguing as the music itself (which is a good thing). This horribly underrated electronic album explores 90s-era British dubstep, drum-and-bass, house, r&b and just about everything else. A really enjoyable listen!

iPod food: “Right Thing To Do”

21. Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow

Notes: Veteran singer-songwriter Kate Bush recently released her tenth album in almost thirty-five years and it was expectedly brilliant. Bush seems to be only getting better with age on this experimental, wintery concept album.

iPod food: “Among Angels”

20. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Notes: A stunning, lush sonic adventure. This is the best the band has ever sounded. No year-end list would be complete without this one.

iPod food: “Lorelai”

19. Wilco – The Whole Love

Notes: An album that covers many different styles, Wilco has provided us with a memorable return-to-form.

iPod food: “Art Of Almost”

18. Katy B – On a Mission

Notes: Hot off the heels of two brilliant singles, Katy B, now the official queen of dubstep, crafted what turned out to be one of the best debuts of 2011. Armed with a beautiful voice, charisma and songwriting skills, expect this young lady to become a household name in the near future.

iPod food: “Katy On A Mission”

17. The Horrors – Skying

Notes: A top-notch, melancholic album by a band that sounds more like Radiohead than Radiohead does. An underrated gem.

iPod food: “Endless Blue”

16. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Notes: This album as a whole sounds like a bi-polar, bluesy, hypersensitive romp through depression (or aggression). At one moment it is loud and electrifying, only to be followed up by a song so heartfelt and touching it could bring a tear to the eye. A laudable achievement.

iPod food: “Vomit”

15. John Maus – We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Notes: An expectantly weird album from the lo-fi crooner. This is not a record for everyone, but if you appreciate musical experimentation and boundary-pushing, look no further. This might also have to be my favorite album title of the year.

iPod food: “Keep Pushing On”

14. Metromony – The English Riviera

Notes: Finally listened to this album a few weeks ago and saw what all the hype was about. A hypnotic listen from beginning to end. What it lacks in production value is made up for in heart.

iPod food: “Corinne”

13. Das Racist – Relax

Notes: Though Das Racist may have started out as a joke, their album is seriously good. With lyrical sharpness, an eclectic, genre-bending musicality, the guys are at once hilarious, eye-opening and innovative. Now that is impressive. There is definitely more than meets the eye to this band. May be the “Arular” (via M.I.A.) of the ’10s.

iPod food: “Girl”

12. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

Notes: I always knew Lykke Li was capable of something great. While her debut album was endearing, one couldn’t help but feel there was still a load of untapped potential there. Wounded Rhymes is the fulfillment of that promise. On this sweepingly gorgeous, wall-of-sound, soul-bearing album it’s hard not fall in love with the Swede. A beautiful record.

iPod food: “Love Out Of Lust”

11. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne

Notes: It’s Jay-Z and Kanye West. Need I say more?

iPod food: “Otis”

10. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’
Notes: Raphael Saadiq is THE most underrated artist in R&B. Nobody in the genre consistently churns out phenomenal albums like he does. Stone Rollin is no exception, covering everything from country, jazz, soul, r&B and everything in between. Also of note is his voice, silky smooth and with a wide range, effortlessly gliding over the taut productions. He is the arguable leader of the retro soul movement now that Amy Winehouse has passed, though he does it with a flair that is uniquely his.

iPod food: “Just Don’t”

9. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
Notes: The Swedes have produced another stunning collection of songs that deal with themes related to love, fidelity and commitment. From start to finish, you will instantly be struck by the range of production and vocal techniques, not to mention the experimental instrumentation that the band is famous for. The band would not be the same without the vocal prowess of Yukimi Nagano, the lead vocalist who breathes life into the hypnotic productions.

iPod food: “Seconds”

8. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Notes: This multi-Grammy-nominated album by Bon Iver is certainly his best album yet. It is a clear demonstration of his genius. An exceptional vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Iver is one of the most talented of our generation. He is a sensitive and sincere person which is exemplified throughout the album with devastating, and refreshing, candor. If this is any indication of what is to come in what is only a young career, we should be very, very enthusiastic of the prospect of even more masterpieces in the future.

iPod food: “Best/Rest”

7. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

Notes: This was a massive release for underground hip hop. Being the first signed rappers on the Sub Pop record label, Shabazz Palaces seemingly came out of nowhere to deliver a landmark rap album that is so surreal, ghostly and ethereal, it plays almost like a dream with tracks melting into one another as if by magic. If Kanye hadn’t taken it earlier, the perfect name for this album would be My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy. Alas, this is a bold and brilliant statement from a promising rap act.

iPod food: “An Echo From the Hosts That Profess Infinitum”

6. James Blake – James Blake
Notes: This is an album so uncomfortably introspective that it is best described as the aural equivalent to schizophrenia (or depression). Think of it as the post-dubstep cousin of The Eraser by Thom Yorke. Lyrics like “My brother and my sister don’t speak to me, and I don’t blame them” are sung with such pain that you just want to give the guy a hug after it’s all done. The minimal instrumentation and dark sonic landscape perfectly compliment Blake’s soulful vocoded vocals. Post-dubstep has officially arrived.

iPod food: “Limit To Your Love”

5. Adele – 21
Notes: The populists choice. Clearly Adele has achieved something great with her sophomore album, which is the best-selling album of 2011 (she also has the best-selling song), and her gimmick-free persona has resonated with millions. A frank, honest collection of heart-broken songs, this may be the best break-up album since Beck’s Sea Change. And let’s face it…she has one of the best voices in the game. What sets her apart from many of her contemporaries is the fact that her voice also conveys emotion, as opposed to just being another strong but passionless vocalist. This will be remembered as the album that shot Adele to super-stardom.

iPod food: “Set Fire To The Rain”

4. Drake – Take Care

Notes: Take Care is the album Drake should have made the first time around but perhaps it was necessary to go through an album cycle in order to draw on experiences for material for this new record. If you thought Drake was sensitive before, this album may make you think he needs some serious therapy. It is fascinating to hear Drake’s rise to stardom from his perspective, detailing encounters with gold-digging women, family issues, daddy abandonment, the dark side of fame, lost love and just about everything else. Love him or hate him, Drake looks as if he has a long career ahead of him. After making what turned out to be the best mainstream hip hop album of this year, he has proven himself to be a true artist.

iPod food: “The Ride” (feat. The Weeknd)

3. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Notes: This is an album dripping with nostalgia – a yearning for a childhood gone all too quickly. It has the ability to make you feel young again. Little on words and big on heart, these tracks are best heard from beginning to end, and are so imaginative (and moving), you may just encounter that feeling of wanting to be a kid again. Quite simply, a wonderful record.

iPod food: “Wait”

2. The Weeknd – House Of Balloons (Mixtape)
Notes: This is the future of music. A perfect blend of r&B, dubstep, pop, rock, hip hop all presented in a flawless package available to to everyone for no money, what’s not to love here? Released as a mixtape (but is arguably a full-length album) earlier this year, The Torontonians have created one of the best R&B records of this century, complete with silky smooth vocals, lyrics that reflect modern romance and top-notch production from a band that came out of nowhere. It was the most surprising and innovative release of this year.

iPod food: “The Party & The After Party”

1. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Notes: What is there to say about this album? On this, PJ Harvey’s 10th studio album, she and her band have truly outdone themselves. This happened to be one of the best-reviewed albums of 2011, and a personal favorite of mine since its release this past February. It was also the winner of the prestigious Mercury Prize (the second time PJ Harvey has won the award). Let England Shake transports you to the England of yesteryear where wars were fought and life was hard. This is not a protest album as much as it is a love/hate letter to her home country of England in what might now be considered the quintessential British album. It’s elegant lyrics reference war, violence, loss and alienation by comparing how it was then and how it is now as a British citizen. Her voice shifts effortlessly from a high-pitched shrill to a low, heartbreaking coo over complex arrangements that will haunt the listener long after the final song is played. This is an album that everyone can should appreciate; it is a timeless masterpiece that fully shows the musical genius of PJ Harvey. It is without a doubt the best album of 2011.

iPod food: “England”

There you have it, the top 50 albums of 2011. This was another year for great music which has us hoping for even more greatness in 2012.

The duo who went viral with their crazy dance and song, “The Jerk,” are back with their sophomore album. New Boyz latest entitled Too Cool To Care will be out this upcoming Tuesday, May 17. So we listened to the album and…

What was cool about New Boyz, is like Soulja Boy’s “Crank That,”, “Jerk” was signature, their own. With Too Cool To Care, it’s the popularity that gave these guys a chance at a sophomore album. Don’t get us wrong, the songs are fun, sound good, and are made for the radio but they’re forgettable and could be performed by anyone else. It will be nice to see them make it to album number three but who knows. Check out two of the nicer tracks from the album, “Can’t Nobody” featuring Shanell aka SNL below and “Meet My Mom” after…

Download audio file (14-Cant-Nobody.mp3)

Download audio file (08-Meet-My-Mom.mp3)

He’s lude, he’s crass, he’s obnoxious, he’s rude but you know what, he is one of the best things about contemporary Hip-Hop. Yup, Tyler, The Creator, of OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All), will release his sophomore solo album, Goblin, on May 10.

We were made aware of Tyler’s work after the video for “Yonkers” became a viral sensation within the Hip-Hop world. His music, which is some of the best within the genre today, can only be understood once you take time to understand that personality of his. Being politically correct is not apart of Tyler’s world, at all.

Tyler’s outside-of-the-box approach to music will remain as OFWGKTA signed a record deal with RED Distribution/Sony that will give them one hundred percent creative control. “Tron Cat,” a new leak from the project, shows off his deep aggression over some sinister production.

Download audio file (Tyler-Tron-Cat.mp3)

Now that you’re finished with that, take a listen to the Goblin album snippets HERE.

It was September of 2009 when Jennifer Lopez first announced her LOVE? album, along with the release of the buzz track, “Fresh Out The Oven,” featuring Pitbull. Fast forward a year and some and J. Lo is now being labelled the “comeback queen.”

Lopez’s stint as an American Idol judge was the right move. The exposure along with the heat of “On The Floor,” featuring Pitbull pushed the single to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Now, the album will finally hit stores on May 3rd. You can listen to a new track “(What Is) Love?)” below and the album sampler after…

Download audio file (01-What-Is-Love_.mp3)

Thanks to Ali’s Blog

It’s been about a year since he released his mixtape Dream Music but now Sosa Man is back on the scene with his new album (yeah that’s right, album) Dreamland. The album features big names like Showtime Shaddy, Sketch, MDeez, Sammi Starr, Alex C., Black Dadda and El Padrino. Before you get into the review, learn about the artist, Sosa Man, HERE.

The album opens up with the well known “iDream” which still puts us in an anthem mode, followed by the previously released “Man Of the Year.” On the Showtime Shaddy-produced “Welcome,” featuring Sammi Starr, urban is mixed with The Bahamain sounds of Junkanoo. “Guaranteed,” featuring Sketch, mixes aggression with Sosa’s delivery and the smooth of Sketch’s harmonious vocals.

Download audio file (08-Every-Ting-Cool.mp3)

The beautiful Alex C. is featured on “Bahamas 2 The World” followed by the “gangsta” “G. Lovin’.” Bahamian dialect mixed with the hood flavor of a Waka Flocka tune is the vibe of  ”Every Ting Cool.” “So$ Major” has a melody that just makes you want to rock back n’ forth. The bass is alive in “eGo Driven,” featuring El Padrino, and runs over into the next track, “Somebody Important.” The theme of ego confidence continues in the be-about-it jam, “Walk The Walk.” The tempo slows down for the midtempo, “Brighter Days,” featuring Sammi Starr. Of course what would a contemporary mainstream album be without a Dance/Pop song. That’s Just what Sosa does with the album’s closer, the bonus track “Too Sexy.”

Download audio file (09-So-Major.mp3)

No doubt about it, Sosa delivers on this album with hard hitting beats and crisp lyrics. He succeeds in solidifying himself as a badass, ladies man and talented artist.

Download audio file (14-Too-Sexy-Bonus.mp3)

Favourites of the album: “Bahamas 2 The World“, “Every Ting Cool,” “So$ Major” and “Too Sexy“.  ”Too Sexy” has to be our number 1 song on this album, with its crazy europop/dance sound.

Dreamland is definitely some of Sosa’s strongest work. He sounds completely confident and comfortable and the only thing we can expect of him in the future, is to get better. Dreamland is a solid debut and packs songs of depth and songs for the radio. Cop the album when it drops tomorrow, April 16th.

Also, check out his album release party tomorrow at Mario’s Bowling Palace.

]]> http://thecsperspective.com/2011/04/15/album-review-sosa-man-dreamland/feed/ 0 http://thecsperspective.com/2011/04/14/myas-sorry-shows-up-on-k-i-s-s-album-new-song-with-sean-paul/ http://thecsperspective.com/2011/04/14/myas-sorry-shows-up-on-k-i-s-s-album-new-song-with-sean-paul/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:25:36 +0000 CeuroK http://thecsperspective.com/?p=11764

So Mya’s K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple) is out over in Japan. No review here but in a simple sentence, the album is an extremely solid one and that is mostly due to Mya’s pretty vocals and sweet melodies.

One song that stood out to us is “Sorry.” We first heard the LQ snippet a few years ago and waited for it but it never surfaced in full HQ. Now, we have the song and it is getting some serious plays. “Sorry” but this is the sweetest little song we’ve heard in awhile.

Download audio file (11-Sorry.mp3)

In the batch of sonically attractive songs on the album, there is a collaboration with Sean Paul. It’s not a Dancehall track, just a really good Pop song with Paul’s Jamaican flavor injected.

Download audio file (02-Rear-View-Mirror-Feat.-Sean-Paul.mp3)

It’s been a few weeks since the album preview of Natalia Kills’ debut LP, Perfectionist, surfaced but now the album is available…

In brief, the opinion has not changed after an entire listen to the album. It’s a shame this girl is not a bit more popular because this debut release is more than solid. There are no fillers but the only downfall is those quick to judge will say Lady GaGa did this about three years ago with The Fame. Whilst there are similarities the songs are darker and seem more substance-filled than the former. Take a listen to three tracks from the album below.

“Heaven”

Download audio file (12-Heaven.mp3)

“Nothing Lasts Forever”

Download audio file (13-Nothing-Lasts-Forever.mp3)

“Wonderland”

Download audio file (02-Wonderland.mp3)

The fire was reignited in J Lo’s Pop career with her hit song, “On the Floor.” The original triple threat is pushing forward with her LOVE? album release with the promo release of “I’m Into You” featuring Lil Wayne.

The gorgeous Lopez is bringing a blend of urban and exotic in the Stargate-produced. Weezy opens with one of his verses… Overall, we’re feeling this song and this new album is shaping up to be a real comeback.

Download audio file (Jennifer-Lopez-feat-Lil-Wayne-Im-Into-You.mp3)

Natalia Kills, an underrated aspiring Popstar who is not showing any signs of hitting it big in the mainstream world just yet, will finally release her debut album entitled Perfectionist in April, in Germany. The Pop artiste unveiled the attractive album cover the other day and now Amzon Germany has the album preview up.

Here’s the thing with Natalia, with a simple glance she seems like the recent crop of gimmick-based Pop acts to come about. In a lot of ways, she is but she is also backed some solid tunes. Perfectionist is a debut album to be proud of; not one song sounds like a filler. A surprise and instant favorite is track 12, “Heaven.” As of now, there is no set release date for US and Canada but go ahead and listen to the preview of this solid debut from Natalia Kills. View the track list after…

1. Perfection
2. Wonderland
3. Free
4. Break You Hard
5. Zombie
6. Love Is A Suicide
7. Mirrors
8. Not In Love
9. Acid Annie [Explicit]
10. Superficial
11. Broke
12. Heaven
13. Nothing Lasts Forever [Explicit]
14. If I Was God

Ok, so you all have probably already seen Britney Spears cover and spread for Out magazine. But the big news right now is that the Standard edition of Femme Fatale has leaked.

You can tell from our opinions of the snippets that we loved what we heard but we just had this odd feeling that the album was not shaping up to be incredible. Now that the album has leaked, our fears have been laid to rest. We love this entire album with the exception of “Big Fat Bass” featuring will.i.am. Now, we wait for the Deluxe tracks. Take a listen to three songs from the album after…

“Seal It With a Kiss”

“How I Roll”

“Trouble For Me”

Jojo announced that her third studio album, previously titled,  ”All I Want is Everything” has been changed to “Jumping Trains”.  The 20-year-old singer revealed plans in a recent Youtube message, to shoot the video for her first single off of the album very soon (whenever that may be.)  For all you #TEAMJOJO out there it looks like the wait continues…..

Keri Hilson’s sophomore effort, No Boys Allowed, splattered all over the net last night. The album, due in stores on December 21, is now up for listen. The No Boys Allowed era has received heavy promotion which should at least guarantee Hilson some decentopening week sales.

Well anyway, despite Hilson’s image change and annoying feminist album title of No Boys Allowed, the album really has some nice tunes on there. One of them is “Bahm Bahm (Do It Once Again I Want You).” Here, in The Bahamas, we embrace Keri Hilson as one of us; she’s made several trips to our nation, embraced our culture and stated numerous times how she likes the way we speak. In The Bahamian dialect there is a term “Bam Bam Bam” used… It seems that Hilson has borrowed that for her island flavored tune. The song has rhythm and flow and even switches from Reggae to R&B in the end. Take a listen.

Download audio file (04-Bahm-Bahm-Do-It-Once-Again-I-Want-You.mp3)

Another highlight from N.B.A. is track number nine, “Beautiful Mistake.” This song is that midtempo/electroR&B that made Keri H. so appealing in the beginning. Her voice is as pretty as ever and the melody of the song complements that. Take a listen to the addictive cut below.

Download audio file (09-Beautiful-Mistake.mp3)

Dromomania has been an interest of ours for awhile now. The left-field Bahamian duo comprised of Wolf Rizzla & Ciggz give us such a thrill because you just do not hear music like this coming out of our region. Well, after waiting for a bit, Dromomania is one step closer to the release of their debut album with the release of their demo album.

The album has a 15 song track list: made up of two acts. We listened to the album 3 times, from beginning to end. The album is euphoria; a feeling of traveling through galaxies. We can see hipsters falling in love with Dromomania. There is a signature sound throughout the album that is very much apparent but it never gets tired or sound the same.

As it is the demo album, the songs are not perfected; vocals have to be rerecorded and guests features have to be put in. Wolf & Ciggz have come quite a ways within the past year. Oh, the entire album was written and produced by Wolf who now feels the album is fifty percent completed. Here’s how he describes the album:

It’s an experimental Pop album and it’s loosely conceptual – especially in Act II but you will hear that for yourself. It was written mostly in the AM which is why it has a sort of dark-eerie feel to it. It’s also inspired by love, science fiction, the future, Montreal, loss, heartbreak, losing yourself…

After the finishing touches and other polishing is completed, Dromomania will have a gem of a debut album. Below you can listen to two tracks: “Blunt,” “What I Want” and “The Colony.” View the track list after…

Download audio file (04-Blunt-1.mp3)
Download audio file (05-What-I-Want-1.mp3)
Download audio file (14-The-Colony-1.mp3)

1. Act I: The Wrong Turns
2. Fresh
3. The Irritation
4. Blunt
5. What I Want
6. Get With It
7. Misled
8. Hurts
9. Act II: Brave New World
10. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
11. Radiate
12. 1880
13. Spitball
14. The Colony
15. Last Call

Well looky here, Ciara’s Basic Instinct is to be released in a few short weeks and it seems like not a lick of promotion has been laid upon this album. Well a little reminder popped up yesterday reminding everyone that the album is still green-lit for December 14; thirty second snippets of all eleven tracks were released.

From the sound of it, Basic Instinct seems to be solid. Aside from all the songs that have leaked onto the net, track four, “Heavy Rotation,” is the best sounding track. There is a lot of Bass usage on the album whilst trying to show Ciara off in a less-glamorous, more-urban light. Take a listen to the sampler below.

Download audio file (Basic_Instinct_Sampler.mp3)

In addition to the sampler, the “Urban Bass Remix” of “Gimme Dat,” produced by Soundz, hit the net. Included are brand new vocals, lyrics and a slammin’ new beat. They lowered the tempo and… just listen below.

Download audio file (Ciara-Gimme-Dat-Urban-Bass-Remix-thecsperspective.com.mp3)

Kanye West, so many things come to mind when that name appears but the prominent thought is a whirlwind of eccentricity. Within the past year, Kanye West’s freedom of speech turned its back on him which caused his greatest downfall in the media. And for a man who will never change himself, for anyone, was catapulted into artistic insanity by those very same downfalls. The perfectionist that is West believes that he is next-in-line to be the greatest, after “Michael Jackson,” and because of those beliefs he has produced an album to support that. Kanye West’s fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is West’s powerful effort to permanently stamp himself as being one of music industry’s greats.

In the album’s opener, “Dark Fantasy,” West’s direct competition this week in album sales, Nicki Minaj, sets the tone in her best English accent before the beautiful and uplifting vocals of an ensemble take us higher. West then kicks it back into full-on Hip-Hop mode as promised with production from The RZA and No I.D. KiD CuDi and Raekwon assist West in the melancholy-coated “Gorgeous.” West’s voice takes on a muffled effect making it sound as if he were standing behind a podium, giving his most important political speech. The song that he came out of hiding with, “Power,” is the one that started West and his public obsession with commercial art. With Rock influences and sampling previous material from his own library, “Power,” was the first sign that Mr. “Ego” never did and never will vanish.

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The overly ambitious “All Of the Lights” takes up the place of tracks four and five. Starting off with the subtle and beautiful sounds of a piano and a stringed instrument in the interlude, the momentum is then shifted into the impacting sounds of tubas, trumpets, drums and horns. With too many features to focus on, West overwhelms the listener with an appreciated and contrived feeling of epic. Speaking of epic, a song that is a lot less intentional than the former boasts true power from four emcees and Bon Iver. “Monster” is hardcore in so many ways blasting killer verses from Rick Ross, West, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj. The hardcore streak continues but on a less aggressive note in “So Appalled” as Jay-Z, Cyhi Da Prince, Swizz Beatz, The RZA and Pusha T send a message out…

One of West’s better G.O.O.D. Friday releases makes the final cut. “Devil In a New Dress” which features Rick Ross is directed at a certain lady, does anyone know who? One of Kanye’s many soul samples is the foundation of this beat producing a smooth midtempo cut. The longest track on the album and one of the most self-reflecting for West on the album comes in track number nine. Featuring Pusha T, “Runaway” is West’s form of an apology for the incident that occurred back in September of 2009. Most certainly, the era of 808′s & Heartbreak is not forgotten as the song closes with about three entire minutes of an auto-tuned drenched voice.

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Influenced by Rock once again, West spits rhymes over a gritty produced “Hell Of a Life.” Listening closely to the lyrics of the song, West’s interests in porn come alive with him dishing out some out some of the most explicit lines of the album without even using as much profanity. Things slow down and get a bit more serious when West plays the “Blame Game” with John Legend. The song is a tussle of words that reaches a climax when comedian Chris Rock lends his outlandish talent to make for another long track on the album.

Once again the use of auto-tune is present. “Lost In the World” which features the incredible Bon Iver and Alicia Keys is probably the most left-field song on the album and happens to be a favorite of ours. It’s expressive, sad, celebratory, depressive and happy all at the same time. “Lost In the World” segues right into the last of the album, a one minute and thirty-eight second political statement entitled “Who Will Survive in America.” In it, some strong words are said about the issues in America that are of a radical degree.

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The whole vibe switches as the main bonus track of the album, “See Me Now,” featuring Big Sean, Charlie Wilson and Beyoncé takes on an soulful urban/church sound. West’s musical ego is omnipresent even when he isn’t rapping.

After all that happened with Kanye West, since last year, it was almost as if it was all a setup that he conducted himself to force the creativity out and ability to create this album. The album picks up where Graduation left off but still incorporates elements of 808′s & Heartbreak… By no means is West Michael Jackson or the other greats he swears by but Kanye West is one of the most ambitious of this generation and has the good intent on leaving the music industry with history. Because of that he has put out the outstanding My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, no matter how pretentious it comes off.

4.5/5

We already posted some Black Eyed Peas just a short while ago but the entire album leaked this past weekend which means our review will be up on the album’s release date. However there are two songs on the album that we cannot wait to share so we’re gonna post them, right now. Those two songs happen to be “Love You long Time” and “The Best One Yet (The Boy).”

“Love You Long Time” just has the prettiest synth-melody, ever. It’s also the cutest duet, for the futuristic genration. Picture Grease (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John) being filmed in this time. This song would perfectly fit one of there many duets. This is a fun song to play around with your girl or boy.

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“The Best One Yet (The Boy)” is the ultimate feeling of ecstasy. You can just zone out to this song and ride the melody of the disco/dance beat. It almost has that “I Gotta Feeling” vibe but executed in a different way. We can only be appreciative that The Peas are making carefree and uptempo tunes.

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THE BEGINNING, IN STORES NOVEMBER 30

Like with parts 1 & 2, the 3rd and final installment of Robyn’s Body Talk leaked well of its release. Part 3 will contain 10 songs from parts 1 & 2 and 5 brand new songs along with the Diplo remix of “Dancehall Queen.”

Now that all 3 parts have surfaced, we can say that Robyn has delivered some of the best music of 2010. Pop perfection is what she has delivered. Her vocals are beautiful, the production is ecstasy and her personality just floods through the speakers. Robyn also collaborates with Max Martin again on “Time Machine” which is magic. “Stars 4-ever” is a shining moment on the release; the song just puts in you a state of euphoria… Just take a moment to listen to the greatness Robyn has produced. Shouts to Ali’s Blog. Oh Body Talk 3 will be in sotres on November 22 in the US and the 29th in the UK.

LISTEN

An opinion that is greatly shared is that Keri Hilson is already suffering the dreaded sophomore slump her album’s, No Boys Allowed, release. With “Breaking Point” and “Pretty Girl Rock” being dubbed as “so bad, it’s good” it doesn’t even make sense how these mistakes are being made so quickly.

Well, Far East Movement’s debut album, Free Wired, is to be released on October 12 and the group  enlisted Keri Hilson as a feature. The synth and bass-heavy “Don’t Look Now” highlights Hilson instead of smudging her appeal. With F.E.M’s “Like a G6” burning up various charts and club speakers this song may be another hit for them.

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English Pop/Rock band, The Hoosiers, released their sophomore album, The Illusion of Safety, yesterday in the UK. It’s unfortunate that we only heard the lead single this past Saturday and you know what, it has been the song played almost every hour since we initially heard it.

“Choices” was released earlier in the summer and from the second the synths sound off with its addictive melody it’s obvious why this was chosen as first single. As catchy as this song is it failed to reach #1 but that’s alright because its 80′s influence was enough to bring in new fans who missed out in their debut phase. You can view the videos for “Choices” and the second single, “Unlikely Hero,” after…

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Trey Songz premiered a full stream of his fourth studio album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure, last night. The album is being released only one year after the super successful Ready. So we went in listening with our feelings about the quick release and maybe because we anticipated a mediocre offering, that’s just what we heard. Just about everything sounded like B-sides to the tracks from Ready. It’s a shame Trey Songz’s and Co. felt they needed to rush-release an album to keep up Songz’s appeal.

BUT WAIT! There was a period of bright light on the album. That brightness would be the “Here We Go Again (Intro)” Those 40 seconds were repeated ten times back-to-back. We just could not get enough of the Jerren “J-Kits” Spruill production. Then today, were reading through the album’s credits and released that one of the album’s bonus tracks (was not included in the stream) was also produced by J-Kits. After searching the song, entitled “Love Me Better”, our prayers were answered as it was the FULL version of the intro. Passion, Pain & Pleasure may be dull but the intro and the bonus track more than make up for it.

Note: We are just diggin the hell out of those Rihanna “Run This Town” “ehhhh’s”

“Here We Go Again (Intro)”

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Love Me Better” (Bonus Track)

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